Book to Share: The Wonder Brothers, by Frank Cottrell-Boyce

I have a great middle grade book to share with you all today, but first: some news!
Little Hough #9 was born last Friday: Blaise Sebastian. He's our second boy and our second November baby—I'm enjoying lots of snuggling and reading during these chilly fall days postpartum. 

Forgive me for a less thorough review than usual—I suppose this is more of a recommendation than a real review—but there is more cuddling to be done. :) And my high schooler needs to use our sole family computer for her college Latin class (having a high school senior and a newborn at the same time is just as wild as you might imagine. And a lot of fun).

Now onto the recommendation!

The Wonder Brothers, by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, has been the perfect relaxing postpartum read. It's funny and heartfelt, features kids obsessed with their hobby (kids with obsessions are always my favorites in books), plus: MAGIC. Of the illusions and sleight of hand variety. It was great fun and absolutely ideal for warding off any baby blues! (That is also to say: not so much of a tearjerker as some of the author's other books. This one stayed very light.)

Here's the publisher's description:

‘Maybe you don’t believe me. Maybe you don’t believe in magic. I bet you will by the time you’ve heard what happened to us.’ Cousins Middy and Nathan love magic. The on-stage, cape-swirling, bunny-out-of-a-hat kind. For Middy, it’s all about patience and practice. She uses magic skills to help her out of tricky situations. Nathan is a show-off and a total danger magnet, he is drawn to the sensation, spectacle and audience. So when the famous Blackpool Tower dramatically vanishes the night of the Grand Lights Switch-On, showman Nathan announces live on TV that they will magic it back home. With a stick of rock, a spangly cape, and a bit of misdirection, they end up lost in Las Vegas, home to the grand master of illusion, Perplexion, ‘Legend of Magic’. Full of tricks, twists and deceptions, the delightful Nathan and Middy will keep you guessing until the very end. No matter how big the show, family, friendship and adventure shine through in The Wonder Brothers.

Have any of you read this, or other books by Frank Cottrell-Boyce? He's one of my all-time favorite authors, little known by American readers, though apparently he's massively popular across the pond.

For more Marvelous Middle Grade Monday recommendations, check out Always in the Middle: http://gpattridge.com